Lady Bug said:

Oh I see. Going to Catholic schools doesn't mean you actually are Catholic, even if you're Catholic.

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Currently, not counting colleges, non-Catholic attendance at Catholic schools is about 22%. Practicing Catholics, unless there is there is a good reason for exception, go to mass every Sunday.

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Verse 1​

Verse 2​

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Verse 5​

keras said:

ONLY for those who accept His Salvation.
It will be Gods disposal unit for those who refuse Him. Revelation 20:15

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Everyone who loves knows God and is born of God. 1 John 4:7

Some just have their subjective salvation filter ratcheted up far too tightly, such as shown here:

Matthew 23:13
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

tag

It's crazy to me that middle class citizens of Texas will vote foe this guy.

Say what you want but conservative leaders I. The US really seem to be acting like monarchs and seem to have about that level of culpability for their misdeeds.


Life would be easy as a conservative politicians I think.

Man.. if I was a celebrity I would be so scared right now.

Light of the East said:

After three wonderful years of being a member of St. Mary's Orthodox, I find that the more I learn about the Orthodox faith and the saints and martyrs of the Church, the less Orthodox I feel. In short, I can't seem to get my life in line with what appears to be a healthy relationship with God through Orthodoxy. This is not new to me, nor is it the fault of Orthodoxy. The problem, as I see and understand it, is my coming from a dysfunctional family and being a dysfunctional person myself as a result. As my former spiritual director once said (he was assigned to another parish quite far away) "Dysfunctionalism is the gift that just keeps on giving."

Here's the question du jour: is it possible that there are people who are just so messed up by life, by people, and by things that have happened to them that they will never get it right in this life?

I ask this because my sense is that I one of those people. I feel am stuck - that I am really going nowhere in my attempts to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in the work of theosis in my life. Yes, I am doing the things you might suggest to me: the fasts, regular attendance at Liturgy and the various services of the Church, keeping a prayer rule at home, etc. My priest knows of my struggles and the particular sin(s) that plague me since I make regular use of Confession.

The single biggest problem I have is in sensing a relationship with our Lord. My spiritual director used to remind me that God is not at all like my earthly father - cold, distant, unemotional and unexpressive of love, yet those are the very thoughts under which I labor. When I do something wrong, I find myself waiting to get whacked in some manner. It seems that this dysfunctional manner of relating to God and the world, while having lessened somewhat over the years, is going to be with me until I die. I just can't see to shake it off and enter into a place of fervent love for Christ. This is why I asked the question I asked.

Other than telling me to just keep on plugging away one day at a time, do you have any suggestions or thoughts?

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So sorry you're going through this, but I somewhat understand from my own past with a controlling family member and an emotion, psychological, and spiritually abusive ex-husband (23 yrs with him). It's tough. I always have to monitor myself from not falling into despair, which is a sin in itself. I've gotten much better since being divorced and away from him (sons are healing day by day as well). What I try to remember and focus on is God just looks for our efforts. That is the most important thing to me. That I'm at least making an effort in my Orthodox Christian life. God knows your struggles and hardships better than anyone else. His mercy is immense. God bless.

Landon Caeli said:

In case you didn’t know, our pets rely on us for their every need. How incredibly unkind it is to ridicule someone for caring for their pets in a proper manner.

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How is it possible to misconstrue such as simple point as was being made? Really, how did you manage to do that?

Landon Caeli said:

...In the meantime, we have grown adults around the world who lack the capacity to produce a fruitful culture/ society.

You tell me who's in the wrong.

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You are. Without any doubt whatsoever.

Valletta said:

The problem is not the Trump administration "leading" people or "pushing buttons." Although outspent by Kamala by a margin of 2 to 1, and with the majority of the media spinning a negative view of Trump on immigration and woke discriminatory policies, the American people voted in Trump because of his stated policies. The Democrats had lied to the American people, claiming the border was safe, secure, and closed, while in reality people were entering out country at record rates and human trafficking rose to a level not seen here since the Civil War. No Christian should have supported this.

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In general I agree with all of your message. I certainly did not support Harris. Stated policy and actual policy outcomes I think differ almost always, even with immigration. Trump never talked about deporting so many green card holders, or those on student visas. He over-emphasized the number of illegals he would be sending back, I think those deportations will come up short but yes he is trying. It is just hoped that ICE will show some restraint in their treatment of illegals and allow the beefs with the judicial branch to play out in the Supreme Court as needed.
My message though that some MAGA supporters have gotten too prejudicial is still likely though I doubt that occurs with you or many in CF. Trump himself seems very divisive but most pretty much knew that already. Anyway, MAGA supporters have much to cheer about, I just am more cautious.

NewLifeInChristJesus said:

I think he is linking you with SDA teachings on many definitions of "law"

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And I do agree with what Aristarkos wrote in. POST #3. !!

And just meant that he wrote how many gospels there are , that anyone can do the same with the word Law !!

dan p

Heavenly Father, Holy is Your Name, we pray You will heal Thomas and his mother, in the Name of Jesus, as only You can do. Amen and Amen.

Ignatius the Kiwi said:

Would that they would have the same passion for countries like Armenia or Christian communities like the Copts. But no, Israel first.

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I would also note that megachurch pastors who say that it is a tenet of the Christian faith to directly support Israel are actually endangering the persecuted Oriental Orthodox, Copts, Syriac Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic Christians, and the persecuted Antiochian Orthodox and other Eastern Orthodox Christians in the region, such as the Greek and Arabic members of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem (which also has a surprising number of converts from Judaism), and the monks and Bedouin laity of the autonomous Church of Sinai at the Monastery of St. Catharine, and the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria, and the Phanariot Greeks in Constantinople. It should be noted by the way that in the Middle East, extremely good EO-OO relations exist (except at the Church of the Nativity where occasionally the Greeks and Armenians have had disagreements, but not recently, the last major dispute was in 2008) prevail, with ecumenical agreements between the Copts and Alexandrian Greeks and the Antiochians and Syriac Orthodox, the latter being particularly strong (to the extent that Old Calendarist schismatics like to whine about it on their numerous blogs and try to argue that the “world orthodox” are heretical.

Of course, if Israel suddenly collapsed, that would be bad for the Christians who live in Israel and Palestine and worse for religious minorities in Israel like the Druze, as the recent genocide against the Christians and moreso the Druze and Alawis in Syria indicates.

Additionally if Iran did obtain a nuclear weapon, there is a concern it would use it, even accepting Israeli nuclear retialiation, against Tel Aviv, which would endanger the Christian pilgrimage site of Mount Carmel.

Thus, we should neither support nor oppose Israel, but lobby Israel to adopt pro-Christian policies and not to adopt policies which could further endanger the Christian minority elsewhere in the region.

ozso said:

Does that only apply to pastors?

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Eh, maybe you have a point. Following my own advice, if I don't enjoy Kent Christmas' YouTube show, I can go find my entertainment somewhere else.

Michie said:

Does the Bible command Christians to support the State of Israel? This is an important question for our time.

Let me answer the question from the outset: No. Christians are not under a biblical command to support Israel. However, they are under a biblical command to not be arrogant towards Israel. Whatever one thinks of Israel, Christians are absolutely under the biblical command to love Jews, just as they commanded to love people of any race. Christians are called to love their neighbor and their enemies (cf. Matt 5:43-48).

But why is this even a question? What is behind all of this?

For those paying attention, there’s a growing number of Americans taking an anti-Israel stance, and with this comes an all-out assault against any thinking that inclines one to believe that Christians have a biblical obligation to support Israel. “The Church is Israel,” they’ll retort! The message is, “God’s chosen people are Christians. Love the Church! Not the State that rejects Christ and was responsible for His very crucifixion!”

Coupled with this is a strong stance against Dispensationalism that teaches that Israel remains “God’s chosen people.” It follows a literal approach to the text — when God told Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse” (Genesis 12:3); meaning if Christians bless Israel, they’ll be blessed, and if Christians don’t, they’ll be cursed. No one wants that, right?

Continued below.

Does the Bible command Christians to support the State of Israel?

All of this is relevant to the question because the Bible is concerned with our attitude that stems from what we should believe about Israel, rather than the political stance we take regarding them

www.christianpost.com

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If it does, it is to the same extent we are required to support other states, in that civil government provides a benefit.

Additionally, in the case of the State of Israel, several important centers of Christian pilgrimage are located within its actual borders, such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Monastery of St. Mark in the Old City of Jerusalem, and Mount Carmel in Jaifa, near Tel Aviv, and still more within areas under its control, such as the Church of the Nativity and the adjacent Church of St. Mary on the site of the birth of Christ in Bethlehem. A number of Roman Catholic, Syriac Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic and Greek Orthodox Christians live in Jerusalem, East Jerusalem and Bethlehem, some of them Israeli citizens and some citizens of the Palestinian territories.

Thus the status of the Christians in Israel and on the West Bank, and their safety, is of extreme importance to us. Thus, peace in the region is good for Christianity.

Interestingly the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) meets on land owned by and legally leased from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

I encourage all Christians to neither hate the State of Israel or align themselves with movements which seek to displace its citizens, nor to regard supporting all policies of its secular government as a religious obligation, because neither is the case.

By the way, demographic shifts in the Jewish population in favor of Charedi Jews who do not wish to engage in military service and who are less specifically nationalistic have the potential to result in either a peaceful long term settlement in about 50 years time, or on the other hand, could engender an undesirable Islamist takeover of the area, which would be very bad for Christians, and even worse for members of other religions who have a presence therein, for example, the Bahai State and the Druze (as witnessed by the recent genocidal acts against the Druze, Alawis and Christians following the downfall of the Assad regime in Syria).

The mother of one of Bryan Kohberger's murder victims forgave her daughter’s killer in court Wednesday, expressing hope that he would find Jesus Christ and said she'd be praying for him.

Kohberger, who admitted to killing four University of Idaho students at their home in November 2022, learned his fate at his sentencing hearing. He was sentenced to four consecutive sentences of life in prison without the possibility of parole and ordered to pay a combined $200,000 in fines and $5,000 in civil penalties to the families of each victim. He was also sentenced to an additional 10 years in prison and ordered to pay a $50,000 fine in connection with a count of burglary associated with the crime.

As Kohberger appeared at the Ada County Courthouse, he came face-to-face with the families of the students he murdered. Cara Northington, the mother of murder victim Xana Kernodle, expressed confidence that “Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, now has her in His loving arms in Heaven, where she can never be harmed ever again for eternity.”

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Randy Combs (L) and his late wife, Christiana Combs, 32, appear in this family photo in happier times. | Screenshot/GoFundMe

A father of five who was sedated in the hospital after he was shot in the face twice by a gunman at Richmond Road Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky, recently learned his wife did not survive the attack as he regained consciousness at a local hospital.

The father, Randy Combs, was among four people shot by the late 47-year-old Guy House, who went on a shooting rampage at the church after he shot and injured Kentucky State Police trooper Jude Remilien at the Blue Grass Airport on July 13.

Randy Combs and the church's pastor, Jerry Gumm, both survived their gunshot wounds. Combs' wife, 32-year-old Christina Combs, and her mother, 72-year-old Beverly Gumm, who is also the pastor's wife, were killed.

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d taylor said:

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​

Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;
But in the middle of the week
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,
Even until the consummation, which is determined,
Is poured out on the desolate.”

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Others believe the "he" in the verse refers to Jesus, who establishes a new covenant with humanity through his sacrifice. I guess we’ll have to wait and see who’s right.

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Hulk Hogan, the mustachioed, headscarf-wearing, bicep-busting icon of professional wrestling who turned the sport into a massive business and stretched his cultural influence far beyond the ring, died Thursday in Florida at age 71.

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Sovereign Grace said:

Someone on x/twitter stated that Lindsey sold over 35 million copies of his books and was wrong on virtually all of it. Talk about getting rich off writing fiction!

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Wild. Good theology never sells...goats are fed and entertained while sheep starve.

Tariffs on imported cars and auto parts cost General Motors $1.1 billion in the second quarter, the nation’s largest automaker said Tuesday.

That hit to its bottom line was largely responsible for a 21% drop in net income for the period. The company said it expects tariffs to cost it between $4 billion to $5 billion by year’s end.


The industry so far has been able to weather those costs and remain profitable without raising car prices, in large part because it already has a backlog of vehicles built or imported before tariffs took hold.

Not MS13 and also not a terrorist. The character assassination of this poor man along with his repeated mistreatment by this administration has been absolutely disgusting.

Aaron112 said:

Is Almighty Everlasting Creator unable to create a moth, a butterfly, a man, or a universe ?

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All things are possible with God. It's just that some people are not pleased with the way He did some of it.

The testimonies of God are the Holy Scriptures (Genesis to Revelation). They include God’s commandments (Old Covenant and New Covenant) for his people to obey. We who believe in Jesus Christ obey his commands to us under the New Covenant God has with his people Israel today, consisting of both Jew and Gentile by physical birth who have trusted in Jesus Christ to be Lord and Savior of our lives. We are the body of Christ, his church.

But Lord means that he is now Owner-Master of our lives, and our lives are now surrendered to him to do his will, committed to obey our Lord in all his ways. And Savior means that he has saved us out of our lives of slavery to sin so we will now follow him in obedience to his commands, and we will no longer walk in sin, making sin our practice. Now righteousness, holiness, moral purity, and obedience to our Lord are what we are living, in practice.

And not only are we to be living the word of God in our daily lives, but we are to be messengers of the Lord who take the message of his gospel to the people of the world. But the gospel message that we should be sharing with the people of the world is not the one which is so popularized in the USA today. But it is the one taught by Jesus and by his New Testament apostles in the New Testament Scriptures, taught in the correct biblical context.

So, what the psalmist described here about the Scriptures, and about his relationship with God, is so fitting to what our relationships with Jesus Christ should look like today, and how we should be viewing the Scriptures with regard to how we should be applying their teachings to our daily walks of faith in obedience to our Lord and to his commands. For he loved the Lord’s commands, and he obeyed the Lord and his commands, in life practice.

And this also parallels over to what Jesus and his New Testament apostles taught as the gospel of our salvation. For faith in Jesus Christ, which is biblical faith, will result in us obeying the commandments of God, in practice, and in us dying with him to sin, and us now living in holiness and in righteousness, and no longer as slaves to sin. For Jesus Christ truly is the Master of our lives, and our lives are committed to walking in his ways.

So we need to understand that faith in Jesus Christ, which is biblical, will result in us dying with Christ to sin, and us walking (in conduct) in obedience to our Lord and to his commandments, in practice, no longer as slaves to sin, but now as servants of the Lord who are doing his will, and who are sharing the truth of the gospel with others for their salvation. For if sin is what we practice, and not obedience to God, we don’t have life with God.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 1:12-13; John 6:44; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:6-8; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10]

The Lord’s Anointed

Based off Isaiah 61
An Original Work / December 16, 2011
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

The Spirit of the Sov’reign Lord on me;
Anointed to preach the Good News;
Sent me to bind up the brokenhearted;
Proclaim freedom for the captives.
He sent me to preach release for pris’ners
Who are walking in sin’s darkness;
Proclaim God’s grace to all men who’ll listen;
And tell them about God’s judgments;
Comfort all who mourn;
Give crowns of beauty;
Oil of gladness and thanksgiving.

They will be called oaks of God’s righteousness,
A planting of our Savior, God,
For the display of our Lord’s splendor, and
They will rebuild God’s holy church.
God will renew them, and will restore them,
And you’ll be called priests of the Lord.
You will be ministers of our God, and
You will rejoice in salvation.
The Lord loves justice;
He is faithful to
Reward those who are seeking Him.

I delight greatly in the Lord;
My soul rejoices in my Savior, God.
He has clothed me with His salvation,
And in a robe of His righteousness.
He has given me priestly garments to wear,
As the bride of Jesus Christ.
As the garden of our Lord and Savior,
He causes us to grow in Him.
He makes righteousness,
Praise, and thanksgiving
Spring up before all the nations.

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Establish My Footsteps in Your Word
An Original Work / July 24, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Another video that heavily utilized my book, Missing Monarchy, has recently been created. It is an excellent summary of the medieval section of that book.

You've Been Lied To About the "Dark" Ages- Ordo


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